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USGS Volcano Notice - DOI-USGS-AVO-2023-12-22T11:10:39-09:00

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ALASKA VOLCANO OBSERVATORY WEEKLY UPDATE
U.S. Geological Survey
Friday, December 22, 2023, 12:18 PM AKST (Friday, December 22, 2023, 21:18 UTC)


SHISHALDIN (VNUM #311360)
54°45'19" N 163°58'16" W, Summit Elevation 9373 ft (2857 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Low-level eruptive activity continued at Shishaldin Volcano over the past week. Frequent, small, low-frequency earthquakes and minor explosions occurred within the summit crater. Minor steam emissions were observed in several clear web camera throughout the week. No sulfur dioxide emissions or thermal anomalies were detected in satellite data. 

Thirteen significant explosive events have taken place at Shishaldin since July 12, 2023. These events have been preceded by increases in seismicity in the hours to days before they occur. It is unknown how long this period of ongoing activity will last. However, previous eruptions of Shishaldin Volcano have lasted weeks to months with repeated cycles of eruptive activity like those seen since July. 

Local seismic and infrasound sensors, web cameras, and a geodetic network monitor Shishaldin Volcano. In addition to the local monitoring network, AVO uses nearby geophysical networks, regional infrasound and lightning data, and satellite observations to detect eruptions.



Shishaldin volcano, located near the center of Unimak Island in the eastern Aleutian Islands, is a spectacular symmetric cone with a base diameter of approximately 10 miles (16 km). A 660 ft wide (200 m) funnel-shaped summit crater typically emits a steam plume and occasional small amounts of ash. Shishaldin is one of the most active volcanoes in the Aleutian volcanic arc, with at least 54 episodes of unrest including over 28 confirmed eruptions since 1824. Most eruptions are relatively small, although the April-May 1999 event generated an ash column that reached 45,000 ft. (14 km) above sea level.



KANAGA (VNUM #311110)
51°55'27" N 177°9'44" W, Summit Elevation 4288 ft (1307 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

A small explosion was detected at Kanaga Volcano earlier this week on December 18 AKST (December 19 UTC), prompting AVO to raise the Aviation Color Code to YELLOW and the Volcano Alert Level to ADVISORY. The event was detected in local infrasound and seismic data and was followed by increased earthquake activity. No associated ash emissions were observed in partly cloudy satellite images. Satellite observations following the event showed a debris flow extending 1.5 km (0.9 miles) northwest from the summit crater rim. Seismicity has declined in the days since the event, but the earthquake rate remains elevated above background. 

This new unrest indicates a possibility for sudden explosions of ash to occur at any time, and ash clouds exceeding 20,000 feet above sea level may develop. Prior to the current activity, the last unrest at Kanaga Volcano was in February 2012 when a steam-driven explosion occurred together with the opening of a large fissure on the southern crater rim. 

Kanaga Volcano is monitored by local seismic and infrasound sensors, regional infrasound and lightning networks, and satellite data. 



Kanaga Volcano occupies the northern corner of Kanaga Island, one of the most southerly members of the central Aleutian chain. It is a symmetric composite cone 1307 m high and 4.8 km in diameter at sea level, built of interbedded basaltic and andesitic lava flows, scoria layers, and pyroclastic rocks. Kanaga Volcano last erupted 1994-1995 when observed eruptive plumes were relatively dilute, rising to altitudes of less than 3 km (9,840 ft) and dropping ash onto the flanks of the volcano. At least two significant ash plumes were recorded over the course of this eruption: the first, to ~7.5 km (24,600 ft) occurred on February 21, 1995 and the second on August 18,1995, when an eruption cloud reached ~4.5 km (14,760 ft). A light dusting of ash fell on the community of Adak and air traffic was disrupted due to continuing low-level activity and cloudy conditions which prevented visual approaches to the Adak air field.



 



GREAT SITKIN (VNUM #311120)
52°4'35" N 176°6'39" W, Summit Elevation 5709 ft (1740 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: WATCH
Current Aviation Color Code: ORANGE

Slow eruption of lava within the summit crater of Great Sitkin Volcano continues. Seismicity has been low during the past week. Clouds in satellite and webcam views obscured the volcano throughout the week. Satellite radar observations from December 20 showed continued growth of the summit lava flow.

The prolonged period of lava eruption at Great Sitkin Volcano began in July 2021. No explosive events have occurred since a single event in May 2021.     

The volcano is monitored by local seismic, geodetic, and infrasound sensors, web cameras, regional infrasound and lightning networks, and satellite data.



Great Sitkin Volcano is a basaltic andesite volcano that occupies most of the northern half of Great Sitkin Island, a member of the Andreanof Islands group in the central Aleutian Islands. It is located 26 miles (43 km) east of the community of Adak. The volcano is a composite structure consisting of an older dissected volcano and a younger parasitic cone with a ~1 mile (1.5 km)-diameter summit crater. A steep-sided lava dome, emplaced during the 1974 eruption, occupies the center of the crater. That eruption produced at least one ash cloud that likely exceeded an altitude of 25,000 ft (7.6 km) above sea level. A poorly documented eruption occurred in 1945, also producing a lava dome that was partially destroyed in the 1974 eruption. Within the past 280 years a large explosive eruption produced pyroclastic flows that partially filled the Glacier Creek valley on the southwest flank.



TRIDENT (VNUM #312160)
58°14'3" N 155°6'9" W, Summit Elevation 3599 ft (1097 m)
Current Volcano Alert Level: ADVISORY
Current Aviation Color Code: YELLOW

Earthquake activity in the vicinity of Trident Volcano remained slightly elevated over the past week with small earthquakes observed each day within the Katmai group of volcanoes. No volcanic activity was observed in satellite and web camera views of the volcano during the week. 

The current period of unrest began in August 2022. Since then, most earthquakes have occurred within the shallow crust, with depths less than 4 miles (6 km) below sea level; however, deeper quakes (greater than 9 miles or 15 km depth) have been notable during much of the unrest period. Surface uplift, low-frequency earthquakes, and seismic tremor – all consistent with magmatic activity – have been observed over this extended period as well.       

Increases in seismic activity have been detected previously at Trident Volcano and other similar volcanoes and did not result in eruptions. We expect additional shallow seismicity and other signs of unrest, such as gas emissions, elevated surface temperatures, and ground movement, to precede any future eruption if one were to occur.           

Trident Volcano is monitored by local seismic sensors, web cameras, regional infrasound and lightning networks, and satellite data.  



Trident is one of the Katmai group of volcanoes located within Katmai National Park and Preserve on the Alaska Peninsula. Trident consists of a complex of four cones and numerous lava domes, all andesite and dacite in composition, that reach as high as 6,115 ft (1,864 m) above sea level. An eruption beginning in 1953 constructed the newest cone, Southwest Trident, and four lava flows on the flank of the older complex. This eruption continued through 1974 and produced ash (an initial plume rose to 30,000 ft or 9 km above sea level), bombs, and lava at various times. Fumaroles remain active on the summit of Southwest Trident and on the southeast flank of the oldest, central cone. Trident is located 92 miles (148 km) southeast of King Salmon and 273 miles (440 km) southwest of Anchorage.





CONTACT INFORMATION:

Matt Haney, Scientist-in-Charge, USGS mhaney@usgs.gov (907) 786-7497

David Fee, Coordinating Scientist, UAFGI dfee1@alaska.edu (907) 378-5460



The Alaska Volcano Observatory is a cooperative program of the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys.